SPRING 2008 Last chance summer research workshop Cal Undergraduate Scientists Association April 23, 2008

Welcome  If you would like a copy of this PowerPoint presentation, simply visit our website, where it will be available for download:  If you’d like to get involved in UGSA, simply check the box “I would like to get more involved in UGSA” next to your on the sign in sheet, and we’ll be sure to keep you posted on UGSA developments.

Agenda  Research internships available in Southern California  Research internships available in Northern California  Exclusive UGSA UCSF/LBNL research apprenticeship opportunities  A personal guide to finding and securing your own lab position independently

Northern California Opportunities

Genentech  A biotech company devoted to discovering, developing, manufacturing and commercializing biotherapeutics that address significant unmet medical needs   20+ open internship positions in San Francisco in a variety of fields as of 4/21/08  Search for jobs positions under the “job posting” section of the website on the Genentech website for “Interns/Co-ops/New Grads”.

Gilead  A biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops, manufactures and commercializes therapies for viral diseases, infectious diseases and cancer   Select “internship” under position type, and select USA and California under country and state respectively  10 open internships in Foster City (San Mateo) as of 4/21/08  Positions encompass structural chemistry, medicinal chemistry, oncology, biophysics, clinical virology, drug metabolism

Amgen  A biotechnology pioneer, discovers, develops and delivers innovative human therapeutics based on cellular and molecular biology   Click on “Click Here to Search for Jobs” link  Under “career category” select “college job”  3 open undergrad internships in San Francisco and Thousand Oaks as of 4/21/08

Cellasic  An early stage bio-instrumentation company developing innovative microfluidic arrays for cellular screening and basic research. (San Leandro, CA)  Internship is a paid summer (full time) position to characterize, validate, document, and develop microfluidic array plates for cell biology applications.  Position is ideal for undergraduates or recent graduates looking for a fast paced learning environment, hands-on research experience, a unique blend of science and engineering, and a dynamic startup atmosphere.  Send a cover letter and single page resume (references can be additional) ina.pdf or similar format

Using CalJobs  career.berkeley.edu  select "CalJobs/OCR", select "Register or login for CalJobs system"  Once logged in, select "Jobs, Internships & OCR Interviews" on the top bar  Select "CalJobs“ and search the following:  Show Me: "All Jobs & OCR Interviews"  Position Type: "Internship"  Keywords (pick one set at a time): "chemical", "cell biology", "engineering", anything else you can think of that's relevant  Many opportunities, including: Sandia National Labs, Caliper Life Sciences, Agilent Technologies, Lam Research, LifeScan, Applied Materials, etc.

Southern California Opportunities

 San Diego, CA  Various internships in Biopharmaceutical Sciences and Research & Preclinical Development  Internships still being posted for the summer.  Biogen Idec

 Southern CA Earthquake Center in Los Angeles, CA (on USC campus)  SCEC/ACCESS (Advancement of Cyberinfrastructure Careers through Earthquake System Science) - seniors or master's students who conduct research and write a thesis in certain SCEC research areas at the intersection of earthquake system science and computer science.  SCEC/SURE (Summer Undergraduate Research Experience) - juniors or seniors in earth science or a related field. SURE interns are paired one-on-one with a SCEC scientist at that researcher’s institution or field site, to work within that scientist’s field of specialty.  SCEC/USEIT (Undergraduate Studies in Earthquake Information Technology) - freshmen through seniors of any major. USEIT interns work on collaborative teams at SCEC headquarters at the University of Southern California and conduct computer science research to benefit earthquake science.  Applications accepted until all positions filled  SCEC Internship Programs

 UC Riverside  Program in Nanomaterials and Devices provides 16 students the opportunity to do research in new approaches to information processing and transmission  Program dates are June 16– August 22, 2008  Students will receive a stipend of $4000 for this 10 week program  Applications accepted until all positions filled  SUNRISE at UCR Program

Genentech  Oceanside, CA  Support the Oceanside Manufacturing Science and Technology Group to be responsible for ensuring successful and efficient cell culture production runs in the MSAT laboratory. The main project will be to execute small scale cell culture validation studies.  Includes two weeks of training  Learn about cell culture theory and small scale cell culture lab operations 

 University of North Carolina, Wilmington  Compare fossil, archeological and modern marine samples to study how the marine ecosystem has changed through time, including degree and nature of human impact, health of modern system, and possible approaches to biodiversity protection.  Program dates are June 4 - July 31, 2008  All expenses paid with a $450/week stipend  Review of applications began on April 7  Research Experience for Undergraduates in Biodiversity Conservation

Internships at UCSF and LBNL through UGSA

The Application Process  These opportunities are available exclusively through UGSA.  More detailed descriptions of each lab’s research projects can be found at our website:  Fill out an application form from our website  Applications are due Wednesday, April 30 th, ed to  UGSA will forward all applications to each professor  Professors will directly contact applicants whom they are interested in, either for an interview, or for a direct selection. Please refrain from contacting professors unless they first contact you.

Application Tips  Visit and browse the lab’s website (might need to google their names). Read through the lab’s current research and recent publications, even if you don’t fully understand them.  Be specific in your personal statement (i.e. don’t simply state that you are interested in science)  Be honest and genuine in your application; in essence, be yourself

Alternative Energy  Vince Battaglia, LBNL  Makes advanced batteries for EVs and plug-in hybrids  Dale Sartor, LBNL  Building Technology Applications Team  Involves a lot of field research and testing to contrast efficiencies in different kinds of energy options

Molecular and Cell Biology  Sanchita Bhattacharuya, LBNL  Radiation Biosciences, studying effects of Radiation on gene expression  Looking for people with experience in computer programming (Perl, R, and other languages) and Biology  Miaw-Sheue Tsai, LBNL  DNA Repair research  Requirements: Basic Bio, Math, Chem, Bio or related major  Expected 12 hours per week of work, experience preferred  Michael McManus, UCSF  Biological processes relating to RNA interference pathways, using the mouse as a model  mRNA research, which may contribute to human disease treatment

 Ken Dill, UCSF  Predicting the structures of proteins using computer algorithms – the “Protein Folding Problem”  Looking for CompSci experience and minimal knowledge of proteins; 10+ hours/week  Joachim Li, UCSF  Studying eukaryotic DNA replication using yeast as a model  Only 1 spot available; want a student who is genuinely interested in the field of scientific research – works extra not because they have to, but because they want to  Jennifer Fung, UCSF  Mechanism of Crossover Interference in Replication  20+ hours per week, flexible schedule Molecular and Cell Biology

Physics  A.S. Verkman, UCSF  FCS, Imaging, FRAP  Biophysics of molecular diffusion and interactions in living cells  Manfred Auer, LBNL  imaging, predominantly electron microscopy (including EM tomography), but also novel labeling approaches and correlative imaging (optical techniques)

Medical  Harold A. Chapman, UCSF  biomedical aspects of lung injury and lung tissue remodeling; includes finding treatments for lung cancer, pulmonary fibrosis, and interstitial pneumonias.  Daojing Wang, LBNL  Stem cell biology research using proteomics tools  Expected to run gels, maintain cell cultures, etc.  Sharmila Majumdar, UCSF  MRI imaging, neuroskeletal development  Applications in arthritis, back pain research

Neurobiology  Louis John Ptacek, UCSF  Circadian Rhythm & Sleep, Episodic Diseases, Neurodegeneration  Louis Reichardt, UCSF  Neuron Development and damage research  Susan Bookheimer, UCLA  Brain mapping using Functional MRI’s to research language and memory systems

Finding your own Research

Step 1: Where do you want to be over the summer?  You need to figure out where you’d prefer to be over the summer; in the northern California area? The southern California area? Your home state?  Once this is determined, find out which universities are in your vicinity, and which you would prefer to do research at

Step 2: What kind of research do you want to do?  Why do you want to enter research? Which fields of research actually excite you?  Another consideration: what are your career plans? This may make a difference between choosing a specific PI.

Step 3: Putting steps 1 and 2 together  Go to your prospective university’s website and find your way to the “research” section of the website.  Within each field of research, there will be links to faculty members.  Each faculty member’s page will give a brief description of his or her research, as well as recent publications from his or her lab  Make a list of faculty members whose labs you would like to work in; how many you choose is really up to you. In retrospect, may have been a bit excessive.

Step 4: Putting yourself out there  Write a detailed, but concise to each P.I. (use Word so you don’t make spelling errors!)  There are several essential elements your will need:  Your name, school year, the university you attend, and your major.  Why do you want to gain experience in the lab setting?  Why do you want to gain experience in this particular field of research, and more specifically, this PI’s research (this is where doing your homework on your PI’s research interests is a must!)  What do you bring to the table? What qualities would make you a beneficial addition to the lab? Market yourself, but don’t cross the line between self-confidence and arrogance.  Be humble; express your willingness to work on a voluntary basis, and to do the dirty work if necessary (i.e. stocking pipette tips, autoclaving, cleaning glassware). [of course, this is only if you REALLY are willing to do these things; if you are not, be honest, so that you won’t find yourself in a situation that you hate]  Set those s loose, and hope for the best

Final Tips  Look in novel places  Biotech Companies, up and coming  Hospitals, Clinics, Tang Center  Out of state  Make personal statements  Short and sweet  Offer free work

Research positions at UC Berkeley  s don’t work  Research the research  Interest is more important than experience  Make good connections  Be persistent

Cal Undergraduate Scientists Association